The Press., 1887-12-01

to him, noble though he may be; we tremble at his touch, his smile, but that we tremble chafes us : and we deny him our smiles, while we turn to others to try for the old fergetful calm-which w1ll n,t come back to us. Nellie Tread v.tIr heart, because when it wHs to1 'tr learn ed to read my own, and l would ''ll you, from my own bitter memories, that when love would fain answer love wom tIl'a sole chance for happiness lies Ill her own hand for a single hour thathour gone by, she either stands among the loving. hap py women who are blest by !. mans best love, or she looks drearily at h'r harvest, which Is but regretfIll sorrow. Nellie's tears had ceas~d to fl ,w she lifted her head and laid an impulsive kiss upon the lips of her cousin.
 "TeH me, Laura" she whispered 10 h. r, softly. ...-.
 ''Not nnl .ss you loIe mv brother, Llnra answer, d. My story wonld warn onr who truly loves, yet hes; tates before her 1 happiness on careless Glrs it would fall too lightly.
 Nelfe's pretty fee wa crimson a' sh made her confession
 ''I-I thick I would, f u w.,s act 1,' unkind to me- le sud. l. ,urs Il 'scd her.
 "You a,e scalcoly kind 10 him, dear, y she said, with faint smile ''whst was 1t last night, Nellie ?'
 'I suppose is w"sn't quite the thing to do, but l i've q pretty flower to Vdne Brandon, which I refused to Jack and think I told somebody. wh' re Jack coult hear, that he and I were sort of nsins, and that I would like 8 dozen more ju,t like him, owned Nellie. .--.-
 EEV.S y Aoi1 hift.rIv Etupl v0u loved him best all the time. It was so with me, Nellie; had cold, c,rtless wold ds for the man who was all the world 10 me. l would turn from him to the most friv,- lous among my ucqnanttEces and treat him with the most utter indifference. A favor he would ask would grant to an other in his presence after having denied it to him. I was foolish enough to think that by seeming indifferent might be- come so aud as my heart turned more strong ly toward him my manu' r became more cold and naughty, and the end was that-we parted. He has gone from my life, and the world he has Jeff ie a ,lrcary one. Nellie, be more tender to yOur own heart, more merciful to your CIVIL life tEun 1 have been to mine"
 "If if Jack lov' d me-" Nellie G 'm- menccd, bnt just then Jack appeared in the doorway, his handsome lace full oI genial light.
 ''Laura,' he ga d, "I have ft an old friend in the parlor. He ctn give Us but few moments, and I know you'll be glad to see him again"
 Nellie was sitting very erect, ent bel cheeks were burning. As l. ,ura left hel seat she asked who their guest was.
 "Arthur Vaughn, J.ck answered, and Nellie's quick eye noted the hot wave o1 color that burned in her cousin s cheek, as, with a few low words, she left the room and, forgetting her ang. r against Juck- who yet lingered-sht. asked, eagerly:
 "Was this MT. Vaughn love of Laura't 't Jack ?"
 "Yts," Jack rephed, sinking into the chair Laura had vacated. "And she treat. ed him-wel, about as 1 have been treated by the woman love-" "Has Miss Foster treat, q you b .dly ? } the girl questioned, serenely.
 My complaint is against you" Jack re, torted. "What have you to say for your self? Doyou think that fool of Brandon so much more worthy of"
 But a little hand stole shyly il.to his and the faintest of faiLt whispers r. ache, him:
 "I;m awfuIly sorry, JHck p and instant ly Jack was very much intereste l, aud his interest communicated itself to his com panion {; and every thing-quarrels flow CTS, neglected dances, L4ura-was forgot, ) ten, until, ill the midst of very tender speech on Jacks part, Lanra entered the room on the arm of tall, fair man, whom Nellie had never seen-Laura, with new joy glorifying her face and shining in hel dark eyes.
 The stranger held ont his hand, and Jack, not exactly knowing why he should, took it in his own.
 "I'm the happiest man in the world, Jack, he said, not paying the least atten- tion to Jacks companion. Laura is tc be my wife,
 "Then there's two of us,' Jack said, laughing. "rhis lady - Miss Lee, Mir. Vaughn-has promised to be mine."